Study of distribution, nature and type of injury in road traffic accidents

During one year study period, medico-legal autopsies were conducted on 1800 cases of fatal road traffic accidents at the mortuary of Madurai Medical College, Tamil Nadu. Male: female ratio 3: 1, 38.8% were in the age group of 25–44 years. Motorized two wheelers were most vulnerable accounting for 35% of total fatalities followed by pedestrians 30%. Heavy vehicles were found to be mostly involved 50.44% of cases and multiple injuries were sustained in most number of cases. Primary impact injuries were recorded in 900 cases, secondary impact injuries in 950 cases and secondary injuries in 1200 cases. Mostly lower limbs 28.37% and pelvis 26.63% received primary impact, head and neck 58.62% the secondary impact while secondary injuries were mostly located in lower limbs 38.38%.